Position: Press and Communications Officer
Type: Part-time (17.5 hours per week), fixed-term contract up to 31 December 2022
Location: Office-based in Cardiff, Wales with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £13,263 - £15,197 per annum (FTE £26,526 - £30,395) plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band D1
Department: MS Cymru team

At the MS Society, we make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive environment where you will make a difference.

About this job

This is a brilliant opportunity to join our hardworking, creative and supportive MS Cymru team.

You’ll be communicating with both Welsh and English speaking audiences, and you must be a fluent Welsh speaker.

We’re looking for a tenacious, proactive Press and Communications Officer to join our team and help us meet our ambitious goals.  

Crucially, you’ll promote and deliver media coverage/strategies to promote our work with a particular emphasis on promoting our fundraising, campaigning and service activity.

You’ll also be our point of contact for media enquiries we receive. And you’ll support the development and delivery of our digital communications, ensuring we have a strong and representative social media presence.

The chosen candidate will have relevant experience (such as a press office, PR agency or journalism), and be comfortable managing competing priorities as part of a busy team. You’ll have excellent writing and communications skills and a positive attitude.

We offer 35 days annual leave (pro rata for part time employees) including bank holidays, travel loan and various other benefits such as supported developmental opportunities.

The MS Society is in the midst of an exciting, transformational, period which builds on our great history and will drive us towards achieving our mission and vision as we embark on our Every MS Story strategy.

Closing date: 9am on Friday 28 January 2022

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK. If we do offer you employment, you’ll be required to provide documentation to show that you’re eligible to be employed in the UK before starting employment.

The full list of UK visas and permits that grant you the right to work in the UK can be found on the UK government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and will not be in a position to support you with any visa applications you may make. 

We’re a Disability Confident Employer. We’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.  We’d be grateful if you could complete the equality and diversity monitoring form on our website and submit it with your application

We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and/or from ethnic minority backgrounds, where we’re looking to build stronger and better representation among our staff.

No agencies please.

NoFit State Circus are looking for a motivated, ambitious and organised Development Manager with a genuine passion for the arts and the work we do.

You must be excellent at building and nurturing relationships, able to think long term and strategically, and adapt to various needs of the ever-changing world around us. 

NoFit State is the UK’s largest contemporary circus company, and every year we engage with 120,000-150,000 people of all ages and backgrounds from across Wales, the UK and the world.  We have exciting plans ahead – you and our supporters are integral to making them a success, there’s never been a better time to join us and be part of it.

Purpose of the Role

To support the strategic development of the company through designing and delivering the company’s overall fundraising and development strategy to achieve established financial targets. As a senior manager you will work with the Executive Team to define and then achieve agreed financial targets. 

Main Responsibilities

Develop and implement the company’s development strategy including (but not limited to):

-  Public Funding (including both ACW and ACE)

-  Trusts and Foundations

-  Corporate supporters and sponsors

-  Private giving (individual donors and major givers)

• Research, identify and draft applications, pitches and asks to appropriate funders/supporters, cultivating relationships and securing support to achieve defined targets
• Manage and nurture the ongoing relationships with current and past supporters/funders
• Plan, manage and deliver a planned programme of development events
• Design and deliver reporting processes that are fit for purposes and satisfy funders’ and supporters’ requirements
• Manage the Development Team
• Support Finance Officer and Company Administrator in financial reporting of designated funds
• Manage development budgets

Working hours: Full time

We can offer a hybrid working pattern combining home working with office based periods of time to ensure a good work/life balance.  Our office and the people within it are open, engaging and warm.

See us in action

Our current show, Lexicon, is in Cardiff from 15 December until 15 January and is a good opportunity for you to experience a bit of what we do.  If you are thinking of applying for the role of Development Manager and would like a complimentary ticket to the show, please email Lizzy at NoFit State.

NoFit State is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments during the application or recruitment process and we’ll be happy to support you. 

For more information, job descrition, application form, how to apply - please see our website.

Key dates

Closing date for applications: 3pm, Monday 24 January 2022

Interviews:                                     Week commencing  31 January

Indicative start date:                    March

Starting salary:£30,000 per annum, depending on experience, subject to review

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and self-motivated Community Fundraiser to join our welcoming fundraising team.

The successful candidate will be achieving and gaining additional funds to directly improve the impact we can have for people with a learning disability across the United Kingdom.

This is a permanent and full-time position with 37.5 working hours per week, Monday – Friday. The nature of community fundraising is that there will be occasional evening and weekend work, for which time off in lieu will be given.

The role is home based with travel expectations covering Wales and the West (Including Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall), the Area Fundraising Manager will be directly responsible for the strategic direction, planning and day-to-day management of all community fundraising for your geographical area.

Within this role, you will achieve agreed fundraising targets for the area through effective management, support and cultivation of both existing and new regional supporters including: individuals, groups, associations, local corporates and schools whilst maximising the current portfolio of Mencap Owned Products. You will research, identify and develop new community fundraising opportunities, areas of potential support and build a robust regional pipeline.

At Mencap, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace and we intentionally plan for the success of our colleagues in everything we do. We welcome applications from everyone, so come as you are and join us. Together we are Mencap!

Key skills and requirements (essential):

• The ability to develop, implement and monitor strategic plans, present budgets and interpret financial information
• The ability to research, assess and initiate new opportunities within the context of an overall plan
• Able to recruit, develop and train, motivate and manage individuals and teams of Volunteers to give their very best
• Able to use interpersonal skills in order to engage effectively with others, understand what motivates them and respond appropriately
• Written communication skills and a high level of numeracy to be able to produce business plans, monthly reviews, press releases, letters, presentations and other similar documents
• Excellent verbal communication skills, to be able to deliver presentations and give local media interviews
• Able to work as part of a team, to see and understand the national picture and to contribute effectively to team plans and goals
• IT literate – use of word-processing, spreadsheets PowerPoint and databases
• Experience of working in community fundraising and delivering or exceeding income targets

Please read the full role profile to see a more extensive list of essential skills and experiences required for the role.

This role will close for shortlisting on Sunday 30th Jan. If you have the relevant skills and experiences we are looking for and this opportunity sounds like the perfect role for you, please click the “Apply” button to express your interest and to begin the application process.

Please ensure you provide a bespoke and up-to-date CV that demonstrates all your experience and skills relevant for this position and tells us what you could bring to Mencap.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applicants with disabilities to apply for all roles with us. To find out more about the scheme please visit the direct gov website.

Benefits

As well as knowing that what we do is making a positive difference to people’s lives, you will receive fair pay and have access to a wide range of rewards and benefits as one of our employees.

• 32 days holiday (including bank holidays) increasing to 35 days with long service plus the ability to buy up to another 10 days via our HolidayPlus scheme
• Service related sick pay when 6 month probation is completed
• Eligibility to join Mencap Pension Plan where Mencap matches contributions up to 5% on a salary sacrifice basis meaning NI savings. If you don’t join the Plan you start, you will be auto-enrolled after three months with us.
• Membership of Mencap Pension Plan to include up to 3 times salary death in service live cover AND Income Protection of 50% salary to be triggered at 26 weeks of long term sickness
• Loans for debt consolidation, bikes, computers and phones when you have been with us for 6 months
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from 3% to 30% at high street shops including major super markets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via Mencap Extras
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Quarterly award scheme and recognition at every 5 years through our YouRock program
• Access to award winning training and development

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Mencap

We work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose. Everyone wants a purposeful job - to do something meaningful. At Mencap, we can give you that. You will have opportunities to develop as a person, colleague, leader and activist. We want to make you feel inspired to reach your potential.

Our work includes;  

• providing high-quality, flexible services that allow people to live as independently as possible in a place they choose
• providing advice through our help lines and web sites
• campaigning for the changes that people with a learning disability want